Government plans further deregulation of childcare centers’ meal service

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Government plans further deregulation of childcare centers’ meal service

The government’s Headquarters for Promotion of Special Zones for Structural Reform plans to confirm on February 4 a measure to allow childcare centers to outsource their meal services for children between three and six years of age.

The minimum standard of the government currently requires childcare facilities to prepare meals themselves.

However, in promotion of “structural reform” policies, the former Liberal Democratic and Komei government in 2004 allowed public childcare centers in areas it designated as “special zones” to provide children with meals cooked outside.

The headquarters in the new government led by the Democratic Party of Japan is attempting to further deregulation by allowing both public and private childcare centers throughout Japan to outsource meal services.

At childcare centers, each child needs to be provided with nutritional meals based on their development stages, daily conditions, life rhythms, and allergy issues. Cooking at the facilities also provides a role of education for children.

Since private firms were allowed to enter childcare services, some of them have cut meal costs in order to make further profits.

Cost reduction must not be put ahead of children’s healthy development and safety, the Japanese Communist Party argues.

- Akahata, January 29, 2010